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Health bill passes but doctors may continue protests

Doctors working for Greece’s main healthcare provider, EOPYY, are due to meet on Friday to decide whether to take part in further protest action after Parliament narrowly approved an overhaul of the primary healthcare sector on Thursday.

As doctors and nurses protested outside Parliament, 151 MPs voted in favor of the Health Ministry proposals and 119 opposed them. The ballot was “in principle” and lawmakers are expected to vote on the bill article by article by Tuesday at the latest.

The overhaul will lead to thousands of healthcare workers being put in a mobility scheme, with some likely to end up in a labor pool and, eventually, out of work. Doctors, however, believe that the government will not be able to fulfill its plans due to staff shortages.